John b



May 20, 1924.

1,494,694 J. E. vMccAw MUFFLER CUT OUT Filed Jan. l0, 392.2A

15. A {v1/ENT? BY W05 ff M A TTORNE Y Patented May 20, 1924 UNITED STATES Joan ze. Macaw, or Nnwvonir, N. r.

MUFFLER GUT-OUT.

Application filed .Tanuary 10, 1822. Serial No. 528,129.

To all. whom it may concer/rt:

Be 1t lrnown that I, JOHN B. MCCAW, a

citizen of the United States, and resident of This invention relates to improvementsin muffler cut-outs for use in connection with the exhaust pipes of gasoline or other explosive engines, and may be used either in connection with a stationary engine or an engine mounted upon a moving vehicle, such as an automobile, boat, aeroplane, or other conveyance. y

The invention relates particularly to the type of muffler cut-out comprising a separate casing adapted to be installed in the exhaust of the engine to control the flow of the gases whereby they may be directed through a muffler or may be directed through a suitable bypass and exhausted into the atmosphere in order 4to relieve any back pressure on the'engine cylinder that may arise from causing the exhaust gases to l. pass through the muffler in the usual course,

or by the character of thesound to locate and identifyfaults of ignition o'r other defects which interfere withthe proper operation of the engine, or to utilize the 'noise created by the explosions in the engine cylin-l ders and the subsequent escape of the exhaust gases as a warning signal.

The invention consists broadly in the elimination of valves requiring valve-seats,

` which are exposed to deposits of carbon carried by the exhaust gases which tend to accumulate thereon and interfere with proper seating of the valve and with the control of the exhaust gases and in the substitution of flexible conduit normally acting as a portion of the exhaust pipe but cam pable of being deflected out of line with the muler so as toexhaust the gases directly into the atmosphere.

Y In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. lis a 4sideelevation of my improved muffler cuteout connectedto the exhaust pipe and the muiller pipe with the cover in its closed position;

Fig. 2 is a bottoni plan view of the same;

Fig. 8 is a sectional side elevation of the cut-out showing the cover in its open posi tion;

Fig. il is a cross-sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

The body or casing of the cutout com: prises a central portion 6 and end portions 7 secured respectively to the exhaust pipe 8 and the muli'ler pipe 9. The casing may be secured to these `pipes in any suitable manner, as by being threaded onto the muffler pipe and slipped over the exhaust pipe.

The central portion of the casing is approximately semi-cylindrical in section, with an elongated opening in the bottom. This bottom opening is normally closed by a movable member, preferably forming a lid or cover 10, which is hinged to a pintle ll, preferably formed integral with an extension l2 that forms an actuating arm or lever 13 for the cover. A rod or wire lll connects this arm or lever with'a foot pedal or other actuating mechanism, not shown, whereby tliecut-out may be controlled.

Y The cover is hinged to the casing in any suitable manner, for example, by causing the pintle to pass through an eye .l5 formed in a 'metal strap 16 that is fastened by any suitable means, as a screw 17 engaging a boss 18 formed on the end portion fitted onto the exhaust pipe 8. A strong spring 19 is fixed to the casing and bears against the lid or cover so as normally to hold the same in its closed position. This spring may be held against displacement by the screw 17 which fastens the cover to the casing', and may extend through a small recess 20 provided in the cover adjacent the strap eye l5.

Mounted within theI casing is a flexible conduit or pipe 21, which is permanently mounted adjacent to the exhaust pipe 8. This conduit is lapproximately` the same or larger in diameter than the exhaust pipe., to permit free passage of the exhaust gases therethrough. `The free end of the conduit is movable with the cover' and is secured thereto by a suitable fastening device, such as a pair of arms 22 which. embrace the lll sides of theiconduit but are cut away flush with the top thereof so as to permit the conduit torest against the casing and thereby economize space. It is obvious that any suitable fastening means may be employed that will permit the necessary movement of the conduit vwithV respect to such fasteningmeans when the cover is actuated through the connecting arm 13. 'Ihese arms may be formed integral with the cover or may be formed integral with a block 23 securedl to the cover in any suitable manner, as by the screw 24.

Ihe bottom of the casing adjacent to the fixed end of' the conduit iscut away on an incline or curve as indicated at 25, to pro-- from the handle ory lever, not shown, tooperate the lever 1'3, which Vcauses they Vcover 'to` open against the tension of the spring 19. The movement ofthe cover carries with it the free end? of the conduit until it is positionedv below the levely of thecasing, permitting the exhaust gases to escape into the open air. VWhen the arm or lever isreleased, the cover automatically returns to its cl'osed'vposition under the action of the spring thus aligning the conduit again with the mufller pipe.

By means of my improved construction the necessity for a tightly fitting valve or deflecting plate that will intercept the exhaust gases is entirely avoided. Nor is it necessary to make a close fitting tight joint between the bottom of the casing and the cover,*as the principal functionof the cover is to control the lposition of the free end of the flexible conduit. The joint between the conduit and the exhaust is stationary, and may be tight when the partsV are assembled. There are no b'earingsurfaces upon which the carbon deposits from the exhaust gases may accumulate and interfere with the operationiof the device. A comparatively short length of flexible pipe is sufiicient to provide for the deflection necessary to direct the exhaust gases below the bottom of the cut-out, but-it is obvious that a pipe of anyV desired length lwithin the-limits` of the casf ingr may Vbe used.

with thev exhaust pipe, a flexible conduit mounted within the casi-ng' and means for moving said conduit to control the movement of said exhaust gases within the casing.

2. In a muffler' cut-out, the combination with a casing communicating with the exhaust pipe and a mufller pipe, of a flexible conduit fixed at one end to intercept the gases from the exhaust pipe, the opposite endy of said conduit being free, and means for moving said conduit into and out of line with themufiler pipe.

3. Ina muffler cut-out, the combination of an exhaust pipe, a muffler pipe fixed in substantial alignment with the exhaust pipe, a flexible member provided with a passage for the exhaust gases: secured in fixed relation to one ofsaid pipes and communieating therewith, and means for moving said member into and out of communication with the other pipe, substantially as described.

4. In a mufiler cut-out, the combination with an exhaust pipe comprising a plurality ofy sections, one of said sections being fixed to and communicating with the engine and the other section communicating with the muffler, of' a flexible intermediate section provided with a passage for the exhaust gases, means for normally holding said section inl communication with the adjacent sections, and means for moving said section out of alignment with one of its adjacent sections thereby tol discharge said gases into thel atmosphere.

5. In a device of the character described, thel combination of a casing, an exhaust pipe having a flexible conduit connected thereto, an opening insaid casing communicating with a muffler, a separate opening in said casing, a cover for said opening and a, flexible conduit communicating with the exhaust pipe and movable with said cover to control the direction of the flow of the gases through said openings respectively.

6'. In a muffler cut-out, the combination of a casing communicating at one end* with an exhaust pipe, a plurality of openings in said casing, a flexible conduit fixed at one end of the casing to intercept the gases from the exhaust pipe and deliver them to said openings, a movable member on said casing, means on said movable member engaging the conduit, and means for actuating said member.

7. In a muffler cut-out, the combination of a casing, a flexible conduit in said casing communicating with an exhaust pipe, said casing being provided with anl opening adapted to communicate with a inufller pipe and" provided with a separate bly-pass opening, a movable member pivoted to the casing, means on the cover engaging the conduit, loosel to permit relative movement thereof, an means for actuating the cover toV move said conduit into alignment with the muffler opening and the by-pass opening respectively.

8. In e mufiler eut-out, the combination of a easing Communicating at one end With an exhaust pipe, a plurality of openings in said easing, a flexible conduit fixed atome end of the easing to intercept the gases from the exhaust pipe and delivei` them to said openings, a movable member on said casing, means on said movable member engaging the conduit to deflect the same, a curved bearing surface on the casing to engage the 10 conduit in its deflected position.

Signed at New York, in the county of i New York and State of New York, this 7 th day of January A. D. 1922.

JOHN B. MoCAW. 

